Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations

California Settles Lawsuit on Children’s Mental Health Care

On Monday, U.S. District Court Judge A. Howard Matz finalized a settlement requiring the state to offer mental health care services through Medi-Cal to children in foster care and children at risk of leaving their families, the AP/San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Background

In 2002, children's advocates filed a class-action lawsuit against the California Department of Social Services, the Department of Health Services and several Los Angeles County agencies.

The lawsuit stated that one of the plaintiffs, a child in California's foster care system, did not receive an adequate psychological assessment and did not receive mental health treatment until two years after she was placed in foster care.

Attorneys for the plaintiffs have argued that failing to diagnose conditions or supply sufficient mental health care services to children ultimately could lead to psychiatric hospitalizations andÂ entry into the juvenile delinquency system.